Krauthammer: Entire Fiscal Cliff Controversy Is Not Just About Taxes

Earlier in the week Fox News' Special Report with Brett Baier took on the issue of the talks that have been going on over the fiscal cliff. In a three person panel consisting of Mara Liasson of National Public Radio, Steve Hayes from the Weekly Standard and syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer weighed in on the issue. Krauthammer was the one though that hit the nail on the head when he asked, "Why are Republicans allowing the entire debate to be about taxes and about the war among Republicans over holding a line on the Norquist pledge or not when what Obama is proposing on raising the rates on the two percent is a triviality?"

Krauthammer continued, " It will reduce the deficit from $1.1 trillion to $1.02 trillion, eight cents on the dollar. It is nothing. It's lunch money. It's a rounding error. And yet that is all the debate that we are hearing."

He's right. It is all we have heard about. Now don't get me wrong, for individual Americans that deficit number doesn't deal with what they will actually be facing in terms of tax increases, but in the big picture of things how the argument has been framed against the Republicans has been for a purpose and Krauthammer points this out.

"Obama understands this," Krauthammer said. "He is trying to -- he is not trying to fix our fiscal issues and problems. He's trying to destroy the Republicans by insisting that there is a split among the Republicans on this issue, which has held them together."

The pledge, as I've said, was not to Grover Norquist. It was something that was binding the Representatives and Senators to the people they served. It was their word and Krauthammer rightly points out that it was something that has been something that has held them close together. Obama is seeking to crack the foundation and completely destroy it. In fact, Krauthammer pointed out that going back on a tax pledge is what destroyed George H. W. Bush. Remember, "Read my lips. No new taxes?"

He went on to make the point more clear saying "This is a political attack on Republicans. There is no evidence right now that he has any interest in the real fiscal issue because he would have to talk about spending and entitlements and he isn't."

Rush Limbaugh echoed this on his program on Thursday. He said, "Part of Obama's transformation of America is wiping out the Republican Party. And anyone who fails to understand that that is also part of Obama's agenda at this moment, anybody who fails to understand that is really not paying attention and is too caught up in traditional conventional wisdom."

"Part of Obama’s transformation of America is wiping out the Republican Party." And this is bad, why? The Republican Party long ago ceased to be conservative and have been trying to catch up to the Democrats for years. Wiping that out and starting fresh with a real conservative libertarian party might be much better in the long run.

God_of_War

40 years I've been fighting the democrats.
In that time I have lost on virtually everything. Family values, no homos teaching in our schools, unchecked immigration, etc, etc.
And now you expect me to feel bad about the republican party breaking apart?
They didn't do a goddammed thing for me in 40 years.
Why should I care?

http://www.facebook.com/jacqueline.lynn.940 Jacqueline Lynn

Charles, as usual, is correct. Republicans campaigned on Closing Loopholes and creating jobs to create revenue. If they cannot stand together on this one crucial issue then one must ask WHAT DO THEY STAND FOR?!
My plan is to register as a Democrat. Then I can ask for some of those freebies they share so lavishly. I can also vote in primaries for their very worst candidates! (As a Indy I can't vote in FL primaries). It will also make me harder to pin point when the FEMA army comes knocking for our guns and gold!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=559025480 Linda Lee

As usual Krauthammer has hit the nail on the head. And I see below in a comment the rich mentioned in context with leaving the country. Oh yes! They can and will because they have the wherewithall to do it. Why stick around to be brought down with the rest of us. It happened in Great Britain. There was a mass exodus of money and jobs.when the rates were raised to high heaven. We could learn form the mistakes Europe has made, but we haven't and I am afraid we won't. We are too busy making the same ones, and even making up some new ones.
The premise of trying to destroy the republican party is part and parcel of the Communist tactic. Alinsky would be so proud, and I hope he's in hell for one, and I hope this crop of communists go there and meet up with him, real soon! And PLEASE folks, let's not be afraid to call them out for what they really are. The word is communist............c-o-m-m-u-n-i-s-t. They can laugh when you say it, but if we use some Alinsky tactics of our own, soon the word will begin to stick as it should never have been forgotten for what it is...............TYRANNY.
Read up on his tactics and use these same ones to fight the ignorant left. Soon the ones who call themselves the intelligensia will be reeling from being bested at their own game.
It's the only way folks! fire with fire!

retiredmillwright

Mr. Krauthammer goes through the smoke and mirrors to the
heart of the matter. Obama is an entrenched socialist and spends like a teen
ager with a stolen credit card to keep big government growing even larger and
expensive. He tries to keep the conservative people at bay by splitting them up
on chump change issues. He splits up the races on any issue possible by playing
a worn out race card. He evades justice for his enter circle. While he has everybody
confused and arguing he seizes more power to bypass our constitution and further
advances socialism, debt, entitlements and UN mandates like gun control and
agenda 21 to the dismay and expense of the productive people of America. He
uses the rich as a scape goat on taxes. Well guess what the truly rich will
flee America if they can’t make money here because of too many taxes. It is
quite possible for Obama to kill the goose that lays golden eggs.

Steve Tanton

Hear! Hear! Bravo!

oldcoyote

Who is this Kraphammer? Sounds like a self proclaimed perfesser.

mickey

He is one of the most educated men in America today,, And you?? You see to be as your nick says,, old wild dog

oldcoyote

In other words educated beyond it's intelligence like 99% of perfessesrs are.

vietnamvet1971

who is this crack pot old coyote? do you live under a Rock with the rest of the Slimy Liberal "Elitist"

Terry

You must be a really old coyote.

FineTexan

Education aside he is a genuinely intelligent person. Literate and expressive. He also has doctor's degree in psychiatry. When he speaks people listen. I listen and he is one of the few for whom I will stop what I am doing and listen to. He is not an educated idiot mouthing off like some.

FineTexan

Look him up if you really want to know what you are talking about.

oldcoyote

He has done absolutely nothing for the betterment of the world. He sounds like he might be just another jew parasite.

FineTexan

ABSOLUTELY nothing? How do you know. Who among us has bettered the world to any significant degree? He at least has a job. We do what we can a little bit at a time. Applies to you also. How have you bettered the world?

oldcoyote

Ok, I looked him up. I found that he didn't know enough not to dive into a pool without hitting the cement bottom head on. That shows how intelligent he is.

Steve Tanton

It is easy to look him up, read his bio if you will. If you are that ill-informed, why pray tell are you blogging on intellectual subjects? Perhaps your attempt at spelling professor (perfesser) tells all.

oldcoyote

I spell those over educated a holes perfesser. That's what they are. He showed how smart he is when he was showing off on a diving board. Only a complete idiot does that with a low water level!!